Introduction 

On 27 February, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made major changes to Express Entry categories. Pharmacists, social workers, and dental hygienists can now qualify for category-based draws, giving these professionals a better chance to get Canadian permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry. 

If you are a dedicated healthcare or social worker who is willing to move to Canada in future, this comprehensive guide is for you. 

How to determine eligibility for the new Express Entry Stream for healthcare and Social Services?

In order to be considered for the Express Entry healthcare jobs category, candidates need to:

• Have been employed continuously for at least six months in one of the 35 qualifying healthcare jobs during the previous three years, or an equivalent amount of time in part-time employment. You can get this experience overseas or in Canada.
• Fulfill the requirements for Express Entry and be qualified for one of the three primary immigration programs offered by the agency: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Depending on the job area, candidates must have certain English or French language standards, which usually range from CLB/NCLC 5 to 7. The results of a valid language test must be submitted with the application.
• For every invitation round, make sure you meet all the requirements outlined in the instructions.

Express Entry Program Overview

The Express Entry pathway for healthcare professionals in Canada has been carefully crafted to address the urgent demands of the country’s healthcare industry. It focuses on hiring highly qualified healthcare professionals by offering a straightforward and effective immigration procedure. This program is essential to Canada’s larger goal of raising the bar for healthcare delivery. It does this by using a well-designed Express Entry program to invite skilled individuals to join the Canadian healthcare system. The coveted invitations to apply for permanent residency are extended to the top-scoring applicants—those who stand out for their professional credentials, experience, and language skills. This stage is essential to Canada’s efforts to build a strong and effective healthcare system.

Canada Permanent Residency with Express Entry 

If you qualify for a category-based draw, you’re more likely to receive an invitation to apply for PR through Express Entry, for you can be invited in a category-based draw with a significantly lower CRS score than for a general or CEC draw.

For example, in 2024, the CRS cut-off for general draws ranged between 524 and 549.

However, in the same year, the CRS cut-off for the healthcare occupations ranged between 422 and 463. This means that candidates whose CRS scores are not high enough for general or program-specific draws may still have a higher chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) if they work in an occupation that Canada has identified as in demand.

Conclusion 

As Canada’s healthcare industry expands, the Express Entry system shows promise as a means for skilled medical professionals to find employment and take advantage of the country’s highly regarded healthcare system. This objective is to ensure that Canadians have access to high-quality healthcare facilities. TVG Migration aims to offer knowledgeable assistance to anyone who is still having trouble comprehending the complexities of the Express Entry application. We are dedicated to increasing the likelihood that your application will be accepted by utilizing our extensive expertise and experience as we provide tailored solutions for our clients. We encourage you to get in touch with us so that we can provide you with individualized support and start the process of your Canadian dream.